Justice News

WASHINGTON – Lloyd Mack Royal III, aka "Blyss," "B," and "Furious," 29, of Gaithersburg, Md., was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge Alexander Williams Jr. for his role in a sex trafficking operation, the Justice Department announced today. Royal was sentenced to 37 years in prison and 10 years supervised release.

On March 25, 2010, a jury convicted Royal of conspiracy to commit sex trafficking, three counts of sex trafficking, possession of a firearm in furtherance of a crime of violence, conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and two counts of distribution of controlled substances to persons under the age of 21.

"This defendant violently preyed upon some of the most vulnerable members of our society. He sought out troubled young girls and, using physical violence, drugs, guns and lies, coerced them into prostitution for his own benefit," said Thomas E. Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. "The Department of Justice will continue to vigorously prosecute these cases."

"Maryland’s human trafficking task force follows a policy of zero tolerance for child prostitution," said U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein. "Anyone who promotes or profits from sex with children should understand that we are standing by to send them to federal prison."

Two co-defendants previously pleaded guilty in connection with the case.

In announcing the sentence, Assistant Attorney General Perez and U.S. Attorney Rosenstein commended the FBI and the Montgomery County Police Department for their work in this cooperative investigation and prosecution. Assistant U.S. Attorney Solette Magnelli and Civil Rights Division Human Trafficking Prosecution Unit Trial Attorney Jim Felte prosecuted this case for the government.